The opposing faces of interferon

9th International Virology Congress and Expo

Interferon (IFN) were among the first cytokines to be produced recombinant, and the first antiviral proteins to be marketed. Since
initial cloning in the late 1970ies, many types of IFNs and a host of cellular proteins induced by IFNs have been identified that are
important in attacking viruses directly (e.g., through nuclease induction) or indirectly, through affecting cellular proteins that are
required for their replication. The most pathogenic viruses (for example, Ebola) have developed mechanisms to directly interfere
with these pathways, which limits the use of IFN as a direct treatment. However, mediators capable of upregulating later steps in IFNcontrolled
pathways may provide novel therapies to evade these pathogen induced, intracellular blockades.
The antiviral activity of IFN is “hit and run” in nature. Typically, IFN concentrations rise rapidly in the first days after infection,
and then drop to undetectable levels as antibody-based responses deal with circulating virus. There is mounting evidence that this
decrease in IFN levels is essential. Chronically high levels of IFN, used in treating Hepatitis C infection or diseases without clear viral
etiology, such as multiple sclerosis can cause side effects. High circulating concentrations of IFN and IFN-induced proteins are found
in diseases characterized by systemic inflammation, including lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Thus a new group of
anti-IFN therapeutics is now in testing, to control immune responses to these important biological response factors.

Biography

Catherine H Schein developed the first industrial scale methods for producing recombinant interferons and related cytokines at Biogen SA. After transitioning to academia, her research group explored the differences in control of nuclease function mediated by type 1 and 2 IFNs and how this related to their different structures. Her current research at FfAME, an institute that specializes in polymerase design, novel nucleotides and viral diagnostics, uses viral sequence data to define pathogenic signatures that direct host and organ targeting, physicochemical property consensus sequences for multivalent vaccine design and identifying inhibitors of enterovirus replication.